I just moved into this new house one
year ago. I have noticed a musty smell
in the hot water. I've never noticed it
in the cold water. The water comes from
one of several wells which are shared by
several lots in the subdivision. There
are only 4 lots occupied in the
subdivision, so asking others probably
wouldn't help as they might even be on a
different well. And the smell is so
minute, I'd bet most people wouldn't
even notice. BTW the water heater is a
propane fired, direct through the wall
vent (PVC) unit. Should I put in a
filter? Or, any suggestions???? Thanks.

On Sep 30, 4:56*pm, Art Todesco wrote:
I just moved into this new house one
year ago. *I have noticed a musty smell
in the hot water. *I've never noticed it
in the cold water. *The water comes from
one of several wells which are shared by
several lots in the subdivision. *There
are only 4 lots occupied in the
subdivision, so asking others probably
wouldn't help as they might even be on a
different well. And the smell is so
minute, I'd bet most people wouldn't
even notice. *BTW the water heater is a
propane fired, direct through the wall
vent (PVC) unit. *Should I put in a
filter? *Or, any suggestions???? *Thanks.

Don't drink it. And have it biologically tested. It could be
contaminated with sewage.

On 9/30/2010 12:55 PM, harry wrote:
On Sep 30, 4:56 pm, Art wrote:
I just moved into this new house one
year ago. I have noticed a musty smell
in the hot water. I've never noticed it
in the cold water. The water comes from
one of several wells which are shared by
several lots in the subdivision. There
are only 4 lots occupied in the
subdivision, so asking others probably
wouldn't help as they might even be on a
different well. And the smell is so
minute, I'd bet most people wouldn't
even notice. BTW the water heater is a
propane fired, direct through the wall
vent (PVC) unit. Should I put in a
filter? Or, any suggestions???? Thanks.

Don't drink it. And have it biologically tested. It could be
contaminated with sewage.


Test is good but sometimes what appears to be water smell is smell from
drain, particularly bathrooms, where hair and other organic deposits
collect and sulfurous smells are emitted. Then, bleach or drain cleaner
can remove smell.

Art Todesco wrote:
I just moved into this new house one
year ago. I have noticed a musty smell
in the hot water. I've never noticed it
in the cold water. The water comes from
one of several wells which are shared by
several lots in the subdivision. There
are only 4 lots occupied in the
subdivision, so asking others probably
wouldn't help as they might even be on a
different well. And the smell is so
minute, I'd bet most people wouldn't
even notice. BTW the water heater is a
propane fired, direct through the wall
vent (PVC) unit. Should I put in a
filter? Or, any suggestions???? Thanks.

How much hot water do you use?

Water heaters are multiplying grounds for nasty things (which is why one
should never ingest hot water).

If you use only a small amount, try draining the water heater to fill it
with fresh. Find some way to inject a spoonfull of bleach into the
newly-filled tank.

On Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:34:39 -0500, "HeyBub"
wrote:

Art Todesco wrote:
I just moved into this new house one
year ago. I have noticed a musty smell
in the hot water. I've never noticed it
in the cold water. The water comes from
one of several wells which are shared by
several lots in the subdivision. There
are only 4 lots occupied in the
subdivision, so asking others probably
wouldn't help as they might even be on a
different well. And the smell is so
minute, I'd bet most people wouldn't
even notice. BTW the water heater is a
propane fired, direct through the wall
vent (PVC) unit. Should I put in a
filter? Or, any suggestions???? Thanks.

How much hot water do you use?

Water heaters are multiplying grounds for nasty things (which is why one
should never ingest hot water).

If you use only a small amount, try draining the water heater to fill it
with fresh. Find some way to inject a spoonfull of bleach into the
newly-filled tank.

And whatever you do, DO NOT run it as low as 145F. A water heater
needs to be HOT to be safe, particularly on well water
(non-chlorinated)

wrote:

How much hot water do you use?

Water heaters are multiplying grounds for nasty things (which is why
one should never ingest hot water).

If you use only a small amount, try draining the water heater to
fill it with fresh. Find some way to inject a spoonfull of bleach
into the newly-filled tank.

And whatever you do, DO NOT run it as low as 145F. A water heater
needs to be HOT to be safe, particularly on well water
(non-chlorinated)

Good point, but if you don't ingest any of the water from the heater, you
should be (mostly) okay with a lower temperature. Meanwhile, a lower
temperature will reduce your fuel bill and, more importantly, save the earth
from natural resource depletion, global warming, and other assorted ills.

It's for the children.

Art Todesco wrote:

I just moved into this new house one year ago. I have noticed a musty smell
in the hot water. I've never noticed it in the cold water. The water comes from
one of several wells which are shared by several lots in the subdivision. There
are only 4 lots occupied in the subdivision, so asking others probably
wouldn't help as they might even be on a different well. And the smell is so
minute, I'd bet most people wouldn't even notice. BTW the water heater is a
propane fired, direct through the wall vent (PVC) unit. Should I put in a
filter? Or, any suggestions???? Thanks.

I manage the wells/water system for what sounds like a very similar situation -
we have 28 lots drawing from 8 wells.

The first thing you need to do is find the person/company that manages your
well. What you didn't mention, but is highly likely with multiple houses drawing
from a common well is the storage tank. Depending on the design of the water
system, it's very likely that the storage tank is vented to the atmosphere. If
not treated regularly, the storage tank will develop algae over time. While
still drinkable, this leads to water with a musty odor, especially when heated.
The appropriate amount of chlorine will knock out the algae and take care of the
problem.

When you find the manager of the well, you can ask when they lasted tested the
water for contaminates. We do annual testing for nitrates/nitrites and Total
Coliform/eColi. The nitrate/nitrite testing catches any unwanted runoff from the
surface contaminating the well water. Total Coliform is harmless, but if it's
present, is an indicator that other bad things may be getting in the water (ie
septic runoff).

If your funds are unlimited, there's lots of other tests you can buy, but these
are relatively inexpensive and cover the most common well problems.

On Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:49:49 -0500, "HeyBub"
wrote:

wrote:

How much hot water do you use?

Water heaters are multiplying grounds for nasty things (which is why
one should never ingest hot water).

If you use only a small amount, try draining the water heater to
fill it with fresh. Find some way to inject a spoonfull of bleach
into the newly-filled tank.

And whatever you do, DO NOT run it as low as 145F. A water heater
needs to be HOT to be safe, particularly on well water
(non-chlorinated)

Good point, but if you don't ingest any of the water from the heater, you
should be (mostly) okay with a lower temperature. Meanwhile, a lower
temperature will reduce your fuel bill and, more importantly, save the earth
from natural resource depletion, global warming, and other assorted ills.

It's for the children.

The extra cost of KEEPING water at 170 instead of 140 is so small as
to be almost immaterial with today's well-insulated tanks.As for
injesting - legionella aerosols very well in steem - so don't take a
shower if the water heater is at 140.

On 9/30/2010 11:34 PM, Robert Neville wrote:
Art wrote:

I just moved into this new house one year ago. I have noticed a musty smell
in the hot water. I've never noticed it in the cold water. The water comes from
one of several wells which are shared by several lots in the subdivision. There
are only 4 lots occupied in the subdivision, so asking others probably
wouldn't help as they might even be on a different well. And the smell is so
minute, I'd bet most people wouldn't even notice. BTW the water heater is a
propane fired, direct through the wall vent (PVC) unit. Should I put in a
filter? Or, any suggestions???? Thanks.

I manage the wells/water system for what sounds like a very similar situation -
we have 28 lots drawing from 8 wells.

The first thing you need to do is find the person/company that manages your
well. What you didn't mention, but is highly likely with multiple houses drawing
from a common well is the storage tank. Depending on the design of the water
system, it's very likely that the storage tank is vented to the atmosphere. If
not treated regularly, the storage tank will develop algae over time. While
still drinkable, this leads to water with a musty odor, especially when heated.
The appropriate amount of chlorine will knock out the algae and take care of the
problem.

When you find the manager of the well, you can ask when they lasted tested the
water for contaminates. We do annual testing for nitrates/nitrites and Total
Coliform/eColi. The nitrate/nitrite testing catches any unwanted runoff from the
surface contaminating the well water. Total Coliform is harmless, but if it's
present, is an indicator that other bad things may be getting in the water (ie
septic runoff).

If your funds are unlimited, there's lots of other tests you can buy, but these
are relatively inexpensive and cover the most common well problems.
Thanks for all who replied.

Here are the results of my testing. The
smell is only from one faucet, a
bathroom vanity on a cultured marble
base. I went to the other bathroom with
the same sink and faucet, drew out hot
water, let is run down the drain and no
smell. We use this vanity very little.
Went back to the original smelly one,
and drew out a glass of hot water, took
it out of the room and smelled it ....
no smell. As someone mentioned, it is
the drain ... I feel stupid for not
seeing (aaaah, smelling?) it. I removed
the pop up stopper and it was grubby,
plus below it was pretty grubby also. I
will clean it with a bottle brush and
some bleach spray. That said, I will
check with the Home Owners' Association
on well testing. But, right now, as
there are only 4 lots occupied, and one
is the developer. The developer and his
dad, is pretty much the association for
now.

?

"Robert Neville" wrote in message
...
Art Todesco wrote:

I just moved into this new house one year ago. I have noticed a musty
smell
in the hot water. I've never noticed it in the cold water. The water
comes from
one of several wells which are shared by several lots in the subdivision.
There
are only 4 lots occupied in the subdivision, so asking others probably
wouldn't help as they might even be on a different well. And the smell is
so
minute, I'd bet most people wouldn't even notice. BTW the water heater is
a
propane fired, direct through the wall vent (PVC) unit. Should I put in a
filter? Or, any suggestions???? Thanks.

I manage the wells/water system for what sounds like a very similar
situation -
we have 28 lots drawing from 8 wells.

The first thing you need to do is find the person/company that manages
your
well. What you didn't mention, but is highly likely with multiple houses
drawing
from a common well is the storage tank. Depending on the design of the
water
system, it's very likely that the storage tank is vented to the
atmosphere. If
not treated regularly, the storage tank will develop algae over time.
While
still drinkable, this leads to water with a musty odor, especially when
heated.
The appropriate amount of chlorine will knock out the algae and take care
of the
problem.

When you find the manager of the well, you can ask when they lasted tested
the
water for contaminates. We do annual testing for nitrates/nitrites and
Total
Coliform/eColi. The nitrate/nitrite testing catches any unwanted runoff
from the
surface contaminating the well water. Total Coliform is harmless, but if
it's
present, is an indicator that other bad things may be getting in the water
(ie
septic runoff).

If your funds are unlimited, there's lots of other tests you can buy, but
these
are relatively inexpensive and cover the most common well problems.

Water heaters have a sacrificial anode inside to reduce electolysis when
dissimilar pipe fittings are used. This can deteriorate and cause a
sulphur-like smell and taste in the water. Iron reducing bacteria can do
this as well. My suggestion would be to replace the water heater, if the
one you have is old, or you suspect that it's the anode. Chlorination can
kill the iron reducing bacteria,

Mark

On 10/1/2010 5:00 PM, Mark M wrote:
?

"Robert Neville" wrote in message
...
Art Todesco wrote:

I just moved into this new house one year ago. I have noticed a musty
smell
in the hot water. I've never noticed it in the cold water. The water
comes from
one of several wells which are shared by several lots in the
subdivision. There
are only 4 lots occupied in the subdivision, so asking others probably
wouldn't help as they might even be on a different well. And the
smell is so
minute, I'd bet most people wouldn't even notice. BTW the water
heater is a
propane fired, direct through the wall vent (PVC) unit. Should I put
in a
filter? Or, any suggestions???? Thanks.

I manage the wells/water system for what sounds like a very similar
situation -
we have 28 lots drawing from 8 wells.

The first thing you need to do is find the person/company that manages
your
well. What you didn't mention, but is highly likely with multiple
houses drawing
from a common well is the storage tank. Depending on the design of the
water
system, it's very likely that the storage tank is vented to the
atmosphere. If
not treated regularly, the storage tank will develop algae over time.
While
still drinkable, this leads to water with a musty odor, especially
when heated.
The appropriate amount of chlorine will knock out the algae and take
care of the
problem.

When you find the manager of the well, you can ask when they lasted
tested the
water for contaminates. We do annual testing for nitrates/nitrites and
Total
Coliform/eColi. The nitrate/nitrite testing catches any unwanted
runoff from the
surface contaminating the well water. Total Coliform is harmless, but
if it's
present, is an indicator that other bad things may be getting in the
water (ie
septic runoff).

If your funds are unlimited, there's lots of other tests you can buy,
but these
are relatively inexpensive and cover the most common well problems.

Water heaters have a sacrificial anode inside to reduce electolysis when
dissimilar pipe fittings are used. This can deteriorate and cause a
sulphur-like smell and taste in the water. Iron reducing bacteria can do
this as well. My suggestion would be to replace the water heater, if the
one you have is old, or you suspect that it's the anode. Chlorination
can kill the iron reducing bacteria,

Mark



why would you replace it? Just flush it through and replace the anode
if needed.

--
Steve Barker
remove the "not" from my address to email

On Oct 1, 5:00*pm, "Mark M" wrote:
?

"Robert Neville" wrote in message

...





Art Todesco wrote:

I just moved into this new house one year ago. *I have noticed a musty
smell
in the hot water. *I've never noticed it in the cold water. *The water
comes from
one of several wells which are shared by several lots in the subdivision.

On Sat, 2 Oct 2010 07:48:36 -0700 (PDT), "hr(bob) "
wrote:

On Oct 1, 5:00Â*pm, "Mark M" wrote:
?

"Robert Neville" wrote in message

...





Art Todesco wrote:

I just moved into this new house one year ago. Â*I have noticed a musty
smell
in the hot water. Â*I've never noticed it in the cold water. Â*The water
comes from
one of several wells which are shared by several lots in the subdivision.
There
are only 4 lots occupied in the subdivision, so asking others probably
wouldn't help as they might even be on a different well. And the smell is
so
minute, I'd bet most people wouldn't even notice. Â*BTW the water heater is
a
propane fired, direct through the wall vent (PVC) unit. Â*Should I put in a
filter? Â*Or, any suggestions???? Â*Thanks.

I manage the wells/water system for what sounds like a very similar
situation -
we have 28 lots drawing from 8 wells.

The first thing you need to do is find the person/company that manages
your
well. What you didn't mention, but is highly likely with multiple houses
drawing
from a common well is the storage tank. Depending on the design of the
water
system, it's very likely that the storage tank is vented to the
atmosphere. If
not treated regularly, the storage tank will develop algae over time.
While
still drinkable, this leads to water with a musty odor, especially when
heated.
The appropriate amount of chlorine will knock out the algae and take care
of the
problem.

When you find the manager of the well, you can ask when they lasted tested
the
water for contaminates. We do annual testing for nitrates/nitrites and
Total
Coliform/eColi. The nitrate/nitrite testing catches any unwanted runoff
from the
surface contaminating the well water. Total Coliform is harmless, but if
it's
present, is an indicator that other bad things may be getting in the water
(ie
septic runoff).

If your funds are unlimited, there's lots of other tests you can buy, but
these
are relatively inexpensive and cover the most common well problems.

Water heaters have a sacrificial anode inside to reduce electolysis when
dissimilar pipe fittings are used. Â*This can deteriorate and cause a
sulphur-like smell and taste in the water. Â*Iron reducing bacteria can do
this as well. Â*My suggestion would be to replace the water heater, if the
one you have is old, or you suspect that it's the anode. Â*Chlorination can
kill the iron reducing bacteria,

Mark- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The OP just moved into a new house one year ago, presumably he got a
new water heater with a new house.
And most likely that water heater is limited/set to 140F.

On 10/02/2010 04:03 PM, wrote:
On Sat, 2 Oct 2010 07:48:36 -0700 (PDT), "hr(bob) "
wrote:

On Oct 1, 5:00 pm, "Mark wrote:
?

"Robert wrote in message

...





Art wrote:

I just moved into this new house one year ago. I have noticed a musty
smell
in the hot water. I've never noticed it in the cold water. The water
comes from
one of several wells which are shared by several lots in the subdivision.
There
are only 4 lots occupied in the subdivision, so asking others probably
wouldn't help as they might even be on a different well. And the smell is
so
minute, I'd bet most people wouldn't even notice. BTW the water heater is
a
propane fired, direct through the wall vent (PVC) unit. Should I put in a
filter? Or, any suggestions???? Thanks.

I manage the wells/water system for what sounds like a very similar
situation -
we have 28 lots drawing from 8 wells.

The first thing you need to do is find the person/company that manages
your
well. What you didn't mention, but is highly likely with multiple houses
drawing
from a common well is the storage tank. Depending on the design of the
water
system, it's very likely that the storage tank is vented to the
atmosphere. If
not treated regularly, the storage tank will develop algae over time.
While
still drinkable, this leads to water with a musty odor, especially when
heated.
The appropriate amount of chlorine will knock out the algae and take care
of the
problem.

When you find the manager of the well, you can ask when they lasted tested
the
water for contaminates. We do annual testing for nitrates/nitrites and
Total
Coliform/eColi. The nitrate/nitrite testing catches any unwanted runoff
from the
surface contaminating the well water. Total Coliform is harmless, but if
it's
present, is an indicator that other bad things may be getting in the water
(ie
septic runoff).

If your funds are unlimited, there's lots of other tests you can buy, but
these
are relatively inexpensive and cover the most common well problems.

Water heaters have a sacrificial anode inside to reduce electolysis when
dissimilar pipe fittings are used. This can deteriorate and cause a
sulphur-like smell and taste in the water. Iron reducing bacteria can do
this as well. My suggestion would be to replace the water heater, if the
one you have is old, or you suspect that it's the anode. Chlorination can
kill the iron reducing bacteria,

Mark- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The OP just moved into a new house one year ago, presumably he got a
new water heater with a new house.
And most likely that water heater is limited/set to 140F.

ITYM 120F, 140F hasn't been the recommended setting for decades
(although there are good arguments why it should be so; legionnaire's
disease combined with the prevalence of mixing valves being two. The
main argument *against* that I can think of would be the increased
delta-t between the inside of the tank and the air around it, but that
can be mitigated by better insulation.)

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

On Oct 2, 4:06*pm, Nate Nagel wrote:
On 10/02/2010 04:03 PM, wrote:





On Sat, 2 Oct 2010 07:48:36 -0700 (PDT), "hr(bob) "
*wrote:

On Oct 1, 5:00 pm, "Mark *wrote:
?

"Robert *wrote in message

...

Art *wrote:

I just moved into this new house one year ago. *I have noticed a musty
smell
in the hot water. *I've never noticed it in the cold water. *The water
comes from
one of several wells which are shared by several lots in the subdivision.
There
are only 4 lots occupied in the subdivision, so asking others probably
wouldn't help as they might even be on a different well. And the smell is
so
minute, I'd bet most people wouldn't even notice. *BTW the water heater is
a
propane fired, direct through the wall vent (PVC) unit. *Should I put in a
filter? *Or, any suggestions???? *Thanks.

I manage the wells/water system for what sounds like a very similar
situation -
we have 28 lots drawing from 8 wells.

The first thing you need to do is find the person/company that manages
your
well. What you didn't mention, but is highly likely with multiple houses
drawing
from a common well is the storage tank. Depending on the design of the
water
system, it's very likely that the storage tank is vented to the
atmosphere. If
not treated regularly, the storage tank will develop algae over time..
While
still drinkable, this leads to water with a musty odor, especially when
heated.
The appropriate amount of chlorine will knock out the algae and take care
of the
problem.

When you find the manager of the well, you can ask when they lasted tested
the
water for contaminates. We do annual testing for nitrates/nitrites and
Total
Coliform/eColi. The nitrate/nitrite testing catches any unwanted runoff
from the
surface contaminating the well water. Total Coliform is harmless, but if
it's
present, is an indicator that other bad things may be getting in the water
(ie
septic runoff).

If your funds are unlimited, there's lots of other tests you can buy, but
these
are relatively inexpensive and cover the most common well problems.

Water heaters have a sacrificial anode inside to reduce electolysis when
dissimilar pipe fittings are used. *This can deteriorate and cause a
sulphur-like smell and taste in the water. *Iron reducing bacteria can do
this as well. *My suggestion would be to replace the water heater, if the
one you have is old, or you suspect that it's the anode. *Chlorination can
kill the iron reducing bacteria,

Mark- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The OP just moved into a new house one year ago, presumably he got a
new water heater with a new house.
* And most likely that water heater is limited/set to 140F.

ITYM 120F, 140F hasn't been the recommended setting for decades
(although there are good arguments why it should be so; legionnaire's
disease combined with the prevalence of mixing valves being two. *The
main argument *against* that I can think of would be the increased
delta-t between the inside of the tank and the air around it, but that
can be mitigated by better insulation.)

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.http://members.cox.net/njnagel- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

the hotter the heaters output temperature the greater the scalding
risk., and higher costs to keep the hot water hot, plus my personal
opinion is that the hotter the bwater the shorter the heaters
life.....

for me i prefer cooler hot water.